Too Late to Hold Her, Too Late to Love Her

I hurried to explain, my voice light yet firm. “Mom, Dad, you misunderstood. Hugo treats me well. I just... can’t bear to leave you.”

My mother-in-law waved a hand dismissively. “What kind of talk is that? If you miss us, just visit anytime or call, and your father and I will come see you. It’s that simple.”

I forced a smile, but deep down, I knew the truth.

This would be the last time.

Once I left this world, there would be no more visits, no more phone calls, only silence. The thought lodged in my throat, thick and unbearable. My voice trembled as I asked, “Mom if we could never see each other again... would you and Dad be sad?”

A flicker of panic flashed across her face.

“Sweetheart, why would you ask something like that? Did something happen? Are you... leaving us?”

Before I could answer, approaching footsteps broke the fragile moment.

Hugo stepped inside, Jasper at his side, and Ava walked between them as if she belonged there. The three of them looked almost like a picture-perfect family from a distance.

Hugo’s expression darkened, suspicion clouding his gaze. “Leaving? Who’s leaving?”

My mother-in-law turned, and the moment her eyes landed on Ava, the warmth drained from her face.

“Why did you bring this woman here?”

The air grew thick with tension, the temperature in the room dropping in an instant.

Yet Ava, either oblivious or deliberately ignorant, stepped forward with a practiced smile. “Auntie, I brought you a little something.” She pushed a gift toward my mother-in-law, her expression filled with feigned warmth. “You’re getting older now; you should better care of your health.”

But my mother-in-law barely reacted. She simply pressed her lips together, not even sparing Ava a glance.

Seeing Ava being blatantly ignored, Hugo spoke up in her defense.

“Mom, Ava spent all morning at the mall, carefully picking out this supplement after doing her research. She just wanted you to have something good for your health. Can’t you at least say something nice?”

My mother-in-law scoffed, her voice laced with disdain.

“Hmph. No need. A weasel paying respects to a hen, she’s up to no good.”

Her sharp gaze locked onto Ava. “I know exactly what kind of person she is. I treated her like my own daughter, and what did she do?” Her voice turned cold. “When you were in trouble, she vanished without a word. Left you behind like you were nothing. She’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch.”

Ava lowered her head, her fingers tightening around the hem of her dress. Her voice trembled. “Auntie, I had no choice back then. My mother was sick… I couldn’t go against her wishes…”

“There’s no need for this pitiful act,” my mother-in-law cut in, her tone impatient. “That little trick of yours might work on Hugo, but don’t think it’ll fool me for a second.”

Even someone as shameless as Ava couldn’t bear to stay any longer.

She covered her face, gave a deep bow, then turned and fled, tears streaking down her cheeks.

I barely had time to take in the sight before I caught something else: Hugo’s gaze. The way he watched her retreating figure, the silent worry in his eyes, the flicker of hesitation.

And then, as if something snapped, he stood abruptly.

“Mom, I’ll go check on her. I’ll be right back…”

The words were barely out of his mouth before he was already heading for the door.

But just as he reached the entrance, my mother-in-law, usually composed, uncharacteristically snapped.

“Hugo, stop right there!”

Her voice rang with authority, sharp enough to freeze him in place.

“If you dare step out of this house today, then don’t call me ‘Mom’ anymore. I don’t have a son who forgets his obligations so easily.”

The room fell into suffocating silence.

She took a step forward, her voice trembling with restrained emotion. “Think carefully. When you were bedridden, teetering between life and death, who was the one by your side? Who cared for you day and night?” Her gaze darkened. “Have you already forgotten?”

Her fingers tightened around my hand, her eyes misting with unshed tears.

“You may have forgotten, but I haven’t. Audrey is the greatest benefactor of this family. A person should never forget kindness.”

Her voice grew firmer, her words pressing down like an iron weight.

“If not for your wife, would you even have the success you enjoy today?”

“And yet, you bring your ex into this house so brazenly. Have you ever stopped to consider Audrey’s feelings? If you refuse to cherish her, I will.”

Hugo’s expression wavered. He turned to me, his gaze unreadable, a storm of emotions flickering behind his eyes.

And then, slowly, he sank back into his seat.

My mother-in-law exhaled, her anger melting into guilt as she turned to me, her voice softening.

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry… for everything you’ve endured.”